Russia and Iran sign strategic partnership agreement – HEADLINE

January 17, 2025Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Massoud Pezechkian signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in the Kremlin on Friday which includes strengthening cooperation in defense and security.

Massoud Pezechkian was making his first visit to Russia since his election as head of the Islamic Republic of Iran in July 2024. He welcomed the opening of a new important chapter in relations between the two countries, whose shared views Vladimir Putin praised.

This treaty “establishes better conditions for bilateral cooperation in all areas,” said Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference, referring in particular to trade and economic relations.

“We need less bureaucracy and more concrete action. Whatever difficulties others create, we will manage to overcome them and move forward,” he added, implicitly referring to the Western sanctions weighing on the two countries.

The project to transport Russian natural gas to Iran via a pipeline is progressing despite difficulties, and Moscow is open to developing new nuclear projects with Tehran, he said.

The Iranian president in turn welcomed the “opportunities” offered by this treaty, brushing aside the declarations of “countries across the ocean”, an allusion to the United States.

“These agreements are a new incentive for the creation of a multipolar world,” he judged.

The treaty, which runs for twenty years, notably includes a mutual defense clause.

(Reportage Vladimir Soldatkin, Andrew Osborn, Dmitry Antonov; Maxim Rodionov, Mark Trevelyan, Filipp Lebedev et Darya Korsunskaya, version française Sophie Louet)